Oyster-shucking machine



Feb. 2U, 1923. 1.4415672..

H. EGLI. OYSTER SHUCKING MACHINE.

FILED APR. I8. 1922. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- i M f 4f //0 i l 45 v 410 4? //0 4J? E9 6, Je 9 //f f' l .92 @E827 24 25E if 2% 27 as `ya.

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/4f. 74 49 I 67 I P I l I .E

LMLYZ.,

SHEETS-SHEET 3.`

H. EGLI. OYSTER SHUCKING MACHINE. 'FILED APR. 18. 1922.

Feb. 20, 1923..

Feb. 2U, 1923.

1,445,672; H. EGLI. oYsTER SHUCKING MACHINE. v FILED APR.v 18| 192.2. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- tWuu tienne nninui nuuunn` f OYETIER-SHUCKING MACHXNE.

ippnianon ined ,funn ie,

` To al?, 'wlw/mj t may concer/1t:

Be it known that if Uiuoinnoi-i EGLI, n citizen of Switzerhini'l,i'iming et Biitiinoife, in the Stete ot Mziijyiend, have invented new` enduseful iinpifoi'einents in QySteit5ii`uci ing' Machines; and do hereby dechire the ifoiloiving to bonu ,uii7 dein", and ena-et deeei'iption ot the, Seine, i'etei'enoe being had to the eeeoinpunly'ing drawings 'toi'inin port of this Specification. i o

o This; invention lehiteeto oyetoi' ei'iueking ninohines and inoie {niiticuiui'iy to si inziehine adopted 'to opeiete `nutonietionily` on the oysters 'troni thepoint o'tinoi'nimliy pineo 1 op und oi' movements oit the voi'ious parte 'troni `in itel opfein'tion; that `will olloeiuteon .uit i the beginning tothe end of the eye-ie ott opei'itione f i r A further object is tofpiovide a machine i thotie pi'ootieuily continuone` und automatici `einen ond grades ofi"oye-tereeffectively` Without adj uetinent of 4'the .meohine `:ind without Mobility oi* breakage ot nny otthe parte; und that Wilt enfibioizugjge quantities ot oy tens to be oplicht); shuokedwith n' ininiinuin expenditure oi? hibou und et o ininiinuin cost.

"Vi/*ith there und othei1 objects; in `View, the invention Consists `in certain Ieoinbinattiene ond ei'iungeinents et parte as will more 'fully appear in the following; specification, the

" novel tentures theieot being `patiticuhni-iy poiiitediout in the appended olonne."` i

in the neeonipnnyine; drawings-io p o i iiieguie l n pian View oit the nniehineiy portions ot the upper puit oft the iiuichine heine' Shown bioiieneuwly to betteil iihietiute interior portions;` i t o i o Fin'. 2 ie u vertieei .eeetionnl `View tninf-in "inversely otjthe ninehine;but` showing; the L "o hund poi'tion oi the unrfi'iine (in elemtion.` Sonie ot the duplicate parte ot the 1922. Serial Nm 555,097.

mechanism fai-e `omitted from this View to iwoid confusion; o

ii inn. 3 ond t ere detail views of n pan' oi" muscle severing' knlvee ond one oit the Wedges `toi', opening the oyitei Shells;

Fien 7 of the housings toi' the knives;

Figi'. 8 is :L perspective View oii' one ot the A tions oi one of the .knweej i S) is n detsiii View ot o, portion ot the 6 is zieeetionzil View `on line (5-6 of opei'eitinge;connections toi' zietuetinf the oysteil positioning;eiuulp; and p Fig, l0 o detail sectional View showing the mounting' oit the Wedge Sections.

its u, generati outline ofthe machine edepti ed ioi illustrating the preferred embodiment ot the pressent inventioin a table l0 is rotatably mounted on u poet il, Seid tzibie hovingi inounted th ei'eon vthe several ineeh anisms :ton positioning-the oyetei's in the ninehine,`

opening' theehelis of the oyetein, then Severiug the closing` inueeies oit the oysters and then entinctuio'` the oysteioinents 'from between the shells, the niente being` deposited 'in ai suitable container. o

i'he poet iii. for the table extends through the bese 12 ofthe inzuhine, the hub 13 of the table 10 being; rotntehiy mounted on the upper end oi" id poet i Rotary .motion is iinported tothetzibie tioinnn opeieting); shaft laiefi `udn upwardly 'through the bose 12, e bushing: beinigpirovided inthe base for said i Shaft, and seideiintt beinn supported mijn cent ite` upper` end ino` broeket 15 projecting; itioin the poet 1i. A pinion 1G mounted on the upper' end ot shaft i4- ineeheewitii n geni" 1T toi'ined on the hub 13 oi" the table, the Sneei'i ot rotation ot shaft 'ift und the relu.-

tii'e sizes oi the pinion lend geni' 17 heini; p i Sueh that the table i0 wlii revolve :it the inte oi approximately three revolutions pei minute.

ifhe tobiei@ Yis eonipni'ntiveiy huren und nlifnngfjed iuoiieuini formation eiound the edee o'l the tzibie le u, plurality of Sete ot nl "uniems 'tot shuekingi; the oysters. Any demi-ed number ori. these sots ot' mechanisme nifty be pi'oifided, t'weiife being); Shown in the nig'. 5 ien- Soinewheft enhugged detail View 'ojt sind Wedge :ind knives;

o detail Tiew oi' :t portion ot one accompanying drawings, but as all sets of the mechanisms are of like construction the following detailed description will be limited to the preferred form of construction or' one set.

Slidably mounted in circular grooves 18 on opposite sides of an opening 19 in the table lO is a. pair of wedge holders 2l. The wedge 22 is composed of two sections, one att-ached to each of the wedge holders 2l, the two sections when moved into contact with each other presenting the appearance ot an inverted V. rlhe wedge sections are adapted to be moved towards and away from each other, these operating means consisting of a stationary cam 23 iixed on the upper end of the post l1. In addition to constituting a part or' t-he wedge actuating connections, said cam 23 also serves as a locking ring` for retaining the table l0 on said post. A radially movable rod 24 slidably mounted in suitable bearings provided on the table has a cam roller 25 journaled in its inner end engaging cam 23 and at its outer end said rod 24 is connected to the wedge plates 2O by arms 26, the connecv the bearing brackets 2S of the rod 24 and a collar 129 adjustably secured on said rod, tends to urge the rod radially inward with the cam roller 25 against the cam 23. When the roller 25 is on the low portion of the cam, ,the outer ends of arms 26, together with the wedge sections, will be moved towards each other but when said roller engages the high portion of the cam, said arms and wedge sections will be separated. As will loe later described, this separation of the wedge sections takes place after the wedge has been inserted in between the oyster shells and is for the purpose of openingI the shell of the oyster.

To support the shells, Awhen opened, from their exterior, a bell crank lever 30, provided on one of its ar'ms with a pin 3l adapted to engage the shell, is pivoted on the table on each side of the rod 24. The other arm of each lever is Vpivoted to a link 32 which in turn is connected at its inner end to the rod 24 whereby when the rod is moved outward to separate the shells the supporting pins 3l will be moved towards each other and brought into contact with the shells. To compensate for shells of varying thick nesses, springs 33 are coiled around the links 32 between collars 34 adjustably secured on said links and the bell crank lever arms to which said links are connected so that should the oyster be rather thick and the movement oif pins 3l resisted before rod 24 and links 32 have reached the limit ot their outward movement, the tension of springs will be overcome and, the links being slidably mounted in the bell crank lever arms, said links will be free to move independently of the bell crank levers.

The edge of the shell, at the mouth of the oyster, is preliminarily broken oil' and the oyster then manually placed in the machine in position to present the cracked edge and mouth to the wedge 22, the oyster being held in this position by suitable clamping,r means. Altliough this clamping means may be varied in its detail construction, one form that has proven satisfactory and that is of simple but durable construction, is shown in the accompanying drawing and comprises a con'iparatively long clan'lping bar 40 slidably mounted in an aperture invtable l0 and in a bracket 4l attached to the knife housing hereinafter described. Fixed to thc upper end of said bar 40, above the table,

is a laterally extending plate 42 in which is slidably mounted a stem 43 provided with an enlarged head 44 to prevent its downward displacement. At its lower end the stem 43 carries a clamping plate 45 having a recess therein, in its lower face, for reception ot the hinged end of the shells. A spiral spring 4G on the stem 43 intermediate the plates 42, 45 tends to force the latter plate downward towards wedge 22, while the entire clamping device is adapted to be urged downwardly by a heavy coil spring 47 surrounding bar 40 and interposed between the under side of table l0 and a collar 48 on the bar.

Relow bracket 4l, and adjacent its lower end, bar 40 is provided with a cam roller 49 adapted to cooperate with a stationary cam 50 on the base l2. At a certain point in the operation of the machine, as will be later described, said cam engages the cam roller 49 and forces the bar 40 together with the plates 42 and 45 upward. It is at this time, with plate 45 elevated, that the oyster is inserted in the machine against wedge 22, the spiral spring 46 holding the oyster in place until cam roller 49 passes off cam 50. rithen spring 47 is free to force the bar 40 and plates 43, 45 down, the pressure exerted by said spring being suliicient to cause the wedge 22 to partially enter the mouth of the oyster.

After the oyster has been opened the closing muscle is severed` this being accomplished by cutting knives carried on the under side oit the table 10. In the illustration of the preferred embodiment ot the invention, there are two knives GO, G1 for each wedge and clamp. Said knives are carried on blocks 62 slidably mounted in ways (lrformed in a knife housing (34 attached to the table by a. bracket G5. The knives are normally held with their cutting edges below the table and wedge sections by a spring l Il (l lettore `knives may be utilized, the preferred form however, 'consistingof a cross. pin 6,8 attached to the spring and engagingv lugs 69 formed on` each of the knife blocks 62. The ende ofthe pin 68 proj ect into vertical slots 70 in the sidewalls of theknife housing 64, thus steadying themovement of the knives while, at the same time, permitting them to reciprocate toward and away from the table.`

Knife 60 has a lateralprojection 71 that projects through a second vertical slot 7E?, in

`the knife housing and slidably mounted in an opening in said projection 71 is an opere ating rod" 73. At its lower end rod 73 is `provided with a cam roller 74, a rather heavy spring 84 being interposed between the` lower end of the operating rod and projection 71. After the oyster has been fully opened by wedge 22, cain roller- 74 orv cornes into engagement with a stationary earn 7 5 on base 12 and through the connections just described pushes the knife upward between the spaced wedge sections, through opening 19 and between the opened oyster shells and severs one end of the closing muscle from one side of the shell.

`The other knife 61 is provided with similar operating connections, to wit, a projection 7G having` a bearing therein for an operating rod 77 with a .spring 7 8 surrounding said rod. rlhe cam `roller 79 on the lower end of said rod Cooperates with a second cam 800n the base 12 but it will be noted that cams` 75 and 8O are positioned relatively to one another lto allow knife 60 to .be withdrawn below the table by spring 66 before knife G1 is advanced to sever the closing muscle from the opposite side of the obstacle, say for instance the hinged end of a comparatively small oyster, the' pressure of the spring ofthat particular `knife will be overcome, resulting in the spring being compressed and the rod sliding freely in its upper. bearing without any ,tendency to further advance the knife.

oysters of varying sizes without liability of Thus far there have been described the mechanism for positioning the oyster inthe machine; `the mechanism for opening the shell. and `the mechanism for severing the closing muscle fro-inthe interior walls of the 'lhis feature renders the machine capable of operating on oyster shell. After this last step` has been l performed suitable mechanism is brought into operation toextraet the severed meat from between the opened shell. As eac-h pair of knives its own extracting mechamism., only ooo extractor ood its @poration will be described. y

Slidably mounted. on the underside of table 10 and movable radially thereof is an extractor having its .outer ond turned up as at 91, the outer edge of said upturned end portion having teeth 92 formed thereon. Normally, said extractor 90 is held radially inward `in a position on the inner side of the oyster by a spring 93 suitably attached to 'Seid extractor and the hub 13.`

After the oyster shell is opened and both ends of the closing muscle severed, the eX- tra-etoiis adapted to be moved radially outward,` through between the parted shells carrying on its serrated edge 92 the oyster meat, the meat dropping off the extractor at the edge of the table into a receptacle (not shown). The actuating connections for the extractor consist of a bell crank` lever 94 pivoted on the under side of the table and to one side of the ertractor, one end of the lever 94 being free and the other yarrn 95 being attached loosely, as by a pin and slot connection, to the extracto-r.

nt the properpoi-nt in the rotation of the table vthe free enel of the bell crank llever 94 is brought into Contact with a stationary pin 96, The free end of lever 94 is m0111611* tarily held Stationary by pin 96 while the table continues to advance and the lever turns on its pivot with the result that the other end throws the extractor radially outs ward.- After the free end of the lever is disengaged from pin 96 by the continued rotation ofthe table, the spring 93, will return the extractor to its normal position.

The pin 96 is slidably mounted in verti-` cally disposed bearings 97 98 in a tubular `snppor-ting member 99 mounted inbrackets 100 extending from the post 11. Said pin 961s normally held in position `toengaege the bell Acrank lever 94 by a spring 10,1 sur.- rounding the kpin and positioned between a stop102-carried on the member 99 and a colf lar 103 on the pin, the upward movement of 4the pin being limited lby collar 103 com` ing in Lengagainont `with `bearing 97 In order, however, to prevent the operation of the extractor in the event no oyster is in the clamp, ,a earn 104 carried on a lateral projection 105 on `the clamping rod 404 is adapted lto engage a cam roller 106 jour.-

naled in a ,projection on the extractor ope cutting pin 96. As will be evident, if there is no oyster in the clamp said clamp with `its rod 40 will be thrust downward by spring 47 and `this movement of the rod 40 will bring the com 104 lclown .to a position where it Will engage and push down the cam roller 106'as the table rotates. VThe downward movement of cam roller 106 will, of course, depress `pin 96 vto a point where it cannot engage the lever 4. rlhe length of'cam 104; is lsuch that cam roller 106 and pin 96 are released immediately after the free end of lever 94 has passed the pin and the latter will be returned by spring 101 to its normal elevated position in time to engage the next succeeding extractor lever.

To prevent injury to theknives 60, G1 by coming in contact with gripping pins 31 if there is n-o oyster in the clamp, a spa-cer block 11() is fixed in clamping rod `10 where it will be brought' down to a postion to engage the arms of bell crank levers 30 when said clamping rod -is: abnormally depressed by its spring. In 'othenworda if there is no oyster in the clamp, the only parts of the machinethat will fully operate will be the wedges which willbe separated as usual to permit the knives to bemoved upwardly through the opening 19.

Having particularly described the several parts of each set of shucking mechanisms, the various operations of the machine will now be set forth in the order in whicn they are performed. y

ylVhile each clamp plate 45 is elevated by cam 50 and roller 19 on the lower end of rod 4:0, anoyster is placed in the machine manually between the plate 45 and the corresponding wedge 9.2 in position to present its mount to the wedge, it being understood, as before mentioned, that the edge portion of the shell adjacent the mouth has been previously broken ott. As the cam roller 49 lpassesfott said cam, the clamping plate together with the oyster is forced downward by spring et?. lhile the voyster* is being forced downward, the wedge sections are abutting eac-lr .other due to cam roller 25 being on the low portion of cam 28 and the wedge enters the oyster mouth a slight distance, after which the cam roller 25 moves upon the high portion of cam Qaud forces the wedge sections apart. This opens up the oyster shell on its hinged end, the radial .movementzof rods 24 caused by cam` 23 simultaneously effecting a closing movement of the gripping pins 31 to'grip the opened shell on its exterior opposite the point of engagement of the wedge sections with the interior of the shell.

While the opened oysters are thus supported between the pins 31 and wedge sections,` roller 74 on'knife operating rod 73 rides up on cam 75 and knife 60 is projectedupward through between the opened wedge sections and the opening 19 in the table, between the'shells and severs `the closinginuscle from one side. After that end is severed, roller il passes out of enea@ ment with cam 75, spring G6 becomes active,

and knife 69 is returned to its normal position. Knife (5i is then similarly projected upward by can: 8() and roller 79 to sever the renuiining end of the muscle and is subsequently returned by the spring (5G.

The oyster meat is then free to be removed from between the shells and innuediately after roller 79 passes oil cam S0 and knife 61 is retracted, the free end of bell crank lever 91 is brought into engagment with the stationary pin 9G and the extractor is thrust out radially of the table., carrying with it the meat.

The several sets of mechanisms successively performs tl esc operations as they are carried around by the rotating table and as the table can be made to carry as many seis of mechanisms as can be 'ted manually, or the speed of rotation of the table increased, the capacity of the machine is limited only bj.' the ability of the operator to feed it.

Vilhile, in the preferred construction, certain parts are described as stationary and their cooperating` parts movable. it is quite evident that such construction might readL ily be varied without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. ln an oyster shuclring machine` the combination of a rotatable table, sectional wedges carried by tle table, means for positioning' an oyster with its mouth on the wedges, said positioning means being movable toward the wedges for forcingr thel wedges into the mouth ot the oyster, means for moving the wedge sections apart for separating the shells, and means for severing the closing muscles of the oyster.

.ln an oyster shuclring machine. thc combination of a rotatable table, a sectional wedge, means for forcing said wedge sections into the mouth of an oyster. said means and wedge sections being movable toward each other, and means for separating said wedge sections for forcing open the yster s iell.

3. ln an oyster shuclringr machine, the combination of a sectional wedge, means for forcing said wedge sections into the mouth of an oyster, means for separating the wedge sections to open the shell, and means movable between the separated wedge sections for severing the closing muscles ol the oyster.

In au oyster shucl-:ing nuichine. the combination of a rotary table, a sectional wedge, means for clamping an oyster iu position with its mouth on the wedge. said clamping means being movable toward the wedge for forcingthe wedge sections into the oyster mouth, means for moving said wedge sections apart to open the shell. means for severing the closing muscles of the oyster, and means for extracting -llie oyster meat from between the shells.

l (il) `Wedge sections "and between the opened shells for severing the closing muscles or the oyster. i i

p 6. In an oyster shncking machine, the combination of a` sectional Wedge, means for "clamping an oyster in position with its mouth onthe Wedge and forcing said Wedge sections into its month, means for separat; .ing said wedge sections to open the oyster shell, knives movable betweenthe spa-ced Wedge sections `and between the opened oyster shells for severing the closing muscles of the oyster, means for extracting the meat from between the shell, and means for returning said Wedge sections, knives, and extracting means to their normal positions.

"7. ,ln an oyster shucking machine, the combination of a table, a sectional Wedge adapt ed to enter the `mouth of the oyster, means ior separating the Wedge sections to open the oyster shell, a pair of knives normally positioned below the table, and means for projecting the knives into theopened oyster shell. and severing the closing muscles oi the oyster'.

8. In an oyster shucking machine,the`com` bination oit' a table, a sectional wedge adapted to enter the inouthot the oyster,means ttor separating the Wedge sections to open the oyster shell, a pair oi knives normally positioned heloivthe table, means tor projecting the Vknives into the opened oyster shell and severing the closingmiiscles of the oyster, means for retractingthe knives and means for bringing the "Wedge sections to*` gether.

9. In` an oyster shucking machine, the

combination oi a rotatable table, mechanism `tor rotating said table, a sectional Wedge adapted to enter the mouth ofthe oyster,`

means for separatingtheWedge sections to open the oyster shell, a pair oi:- knives normally positioned belovv the table, means for projecting the knives into the opened oyster shell for severing the closing muscles oll the oyster, and means 'for `extracting` the meat from between the opened shell` l0. ln an oyster shacking machine, the combination of a table, a-sectional ii'edge adaptedto enter the month ot the i'iyzstei, means 'for separating the wedge sections to `open the oyster shell, a pair of knives nororally positioned below the table, means for projecting the knives into the opened oyster shell 'tor severing the closing muscles ot' the oyster, a meat extractor, means for actuating the extractor and returningl it to its norr inal position, and means ior rendering said extractor inoperative when the machine is running idle. Y

11. Inan oyster1 shucking machine, the combina-tion of a rotatable table, a sectional Wedge adapted to enter the mouth of the oyster, means for separating the Wedge sections to open the oyster shell, a pair of knives, means for projecting the knives between the separated Wedge sections into the opened oyster shell for severing the closing muscles `of the oyster, means for supporting the opened shells from the exterior of their sides and against the Wedge sections.

l2. In an oyster shucking machine, the i combination of a rotatable table, a series of sectional Wedges slidably mounted inthe tabl a corresponding number oi clamps for clamping the oysters against said Wedges and forcing the Wedges into the mouths ot the oysters, a corresponding series of knives, means for separating the Wedge sections to open the oysters, means `foradvancing the knives to sever the closing muscles o'l' the oysters, and means for restoring said wedge sections and knives to their normal positions.

13. ln an oyster slincking machine, the combination of a' rotatable table, a series of sectional Wedges carried on the table, a cor responding number `et clamps `lor cla-mping the oysters against the Wedges and forcing said Wedges intothe months oi the oysters, a corresponding series ot knives, means for separating the wedge sections to open thel oyster shells, means for advancing the knives to sever the closing muscles of the oysters, means for restoring the Wedge sections and knives to their normal post tions, means for extracting the oyster meat from between theshells, and means for rendering said extracting means inoperative when the machine is ruiming idleu lll,l In an oyster shucking machine, the combination of a rotatable table, a Series of sectional Wedges slidably mounted in the table, a corresponding number of clamps lor clan'iping the oysters against the Wedges and forcing said Wedges into the mouths of the oysters, means for separating the Wedge sections to open the oysters shells, means adapted to be projected in between the opened shells for severing the closing muscles ofthe oyster, and means t'or re storing the severing means and the Wedge sections to their normal positions. i

.'plin an oyster shuckiimr machine, `the comliination ot a rotatable table, a series ot sectional Wedges slidably mounted in the table, a coirespondi g number oit clamps carried by the table igor clamping the oysters against the wedges and :forcing said Wedges into the mouths of the oysters, a correspondingseries of knives, means for separating the Wedge sections to open the oyster shells, means ior advancing the knives to sever the 'mei is tor .i

closing muscles ot the oysters, means interposed in the knife operating connections tor taking up the motion imparted to the knives, whereby oysters of varying` sizes may be operated upon, and means for returning the wedge sections and knives to their' normal positions.

16. In an oyster shuckinrr machine, the combination ot' a rotary table, a series ot clamping` devices for positioning` the oysters on the table, slidably mounted means for preliminarily opening the oysters and subsequently spreading; the shells et the oyster apart, a series otknives arranged in pairs, means `tor actuating each pair ot lniives tor severing; the closing` muscles of the oyster, and means for extractingthe meats 'trom the shells.

17. In an oyster shucking machine, the combination of a table, a series of slidably mounted wedges, a corresponding number ot clamps each adapted to position an oyster on one of the wedges, means for moving); the re spec-tive clamps and wedges together to partially open the oyster shells, means for actuating the wedges to fully open the shells, a corresponding)` number ot pairs of knives, and means tor advancing,` the knives into the opened shells to sever the closing muscles of the oyster.

18. In an oyster shucking' machine, the combination of a rotary table, a series of wedges, a Correspending` number of clamps each adapted to position an oyster against oneot the wedges, means for moving the respective clamps and wedges towards one another to torce the wedge into the mouth oi the oyster, moans for actuating vthe wedges to fully open the oyster, a pair of knives for each wedge and clamp, means for projecting,r one vknife ot each pair into the opened shells and then withdrawing said knife, and means tor subsequently advancing and retracting the other knife otl each ot 'said pairs of knives.

19. In an oyster shucking machine, the combination eta rotary table, a series of sectional wedges, a corresponding number ot oyster holding` clamps each adapted to position an oyster on one of the wedges, means tor moving the clamp to Yards the wedgeto torce the wedge sections into the oyster` means tor successively separatingy the tions ot each wedge to fully open the shells, a pair of knivs tor each wedge. and mively projecting' each pair oi" knives into the opened oyster shells to sever the, closingmuscles ot the oysters.

2t). In an oyster shucking machine, the combination ot a rotary table, a series ot sectional wedges, a corresponding` number ot'- clampsfor positioning' the oysters against the wedges,-means tor moving; the clamps toward the vvedees to partially open the shells, means l'or successively separating,r the sections of the wedges to tully open the shells, a correspomliner series ot pairs ol' knives, means for successively projecting; tbe pairs ot knives into the oysters to sever the 'closing muscles ot the latter, a correspondnu;l

ot sectional wedges carried on the table` a series otl clamps, means vfor movingthe clamps towards and away trom the vredues`y means tor i'i'ioviufi` the wedge sections apart, a series ot knit'e housings carried by the table, a pair ot' knives slidably mounted iu each housing, pair of actuating; rods tor each pair of knives, rollers mounted on the, actuating' rods, and stationary cams adapted to successively en ejag'o said rollers .subsequent to the separation ol the resluctive, wedge sections for severinel` the closingP muscles of the oysters.

22. In an oyster .slu'u-,kine` machine, the combination et a post, a table rotatably mounted on said post, a series ot wedges carried on the table each eonulnising a pair of transversely movable sections, a seriesl ot clamps movable towards and away l'rom the wedges, a stationary cam mounted on the post, a radially movable, rod tor each ot said wedges, connecting arms pivotally connected to the respective rods and wedge sections, a roller liournaled on the inner end ol` each rod, said rollers engaging the stationary cam. whereby a radial outward movement ot the rods will move the wedge sections away from each other, a pair ot knives for each of the wedges, and means tor projectingr the knives of each pair into the oyster shells after the wedge sections and shells are separated.

23. In an oyster shuckiuer machine, the combination of a post, a. tableI rotatably mounted on said post, a series ot wedges carried on the table each comprisinpr a pair ot transversely movable sections. ay series ot clamps movable towards and away Vtrom the wedges, a stationary cani mounted on the post, a radially movable rod tor cach ol the wedges, connecting' arms pivotally connected to the respective rods and wedge sectionma roller jourmiled in the inner curl ot each rofl and ene'agrin'e' the tationary ram. said radially movalde rods and emmer-lim;` arms be. ingr positioned between the wedges and said cam whereby a radial outward movement ol` the rods will move the wedge sectionsI away rom each other, a series oit knite housings carried by the table, a pair o'l knivesI slidablv mounted in each housing. a pair ot actuatiupl rods tor the knives oi'neaeh pair ol'A knives, rollers mounted on the kuil'e actuatwedo'es means h 7 mesme `2liln an oyster shuckinp; machine, the

combination oit a post, a table rotatably mounted on the oost a series ot sectional ing: the wedge sections apart to open the oyster shells, a pair' ott knives slidably mounted below eacli wedge, a lateral projection carried by each knife, an actuating rod loosely mounted in each ol said projections, an abutment on each rod, aspringr on each rod interposed between the projections and abutments, a roller on each rod, and. stationary cams adapted to engage said rollers.

25. ln an oyster sliuckingmachine, the combination ot a post, a rotatable table on the post, a series oi wedges carried on the table each comprising `a pair ot transversely movable sections, a series oit clamps movable towards the wedges, a stationary cam mounted on the post, a radially movable rod tor each of the wedges, connectingarms pivotally connected to the respective rods and wedge sections, a roller journaled in the inner end ot each rod and engaging,` the stationary cam, said radially movable arms and rods being positioned between the cam and wedoges whereby a radial outward movement oli the rods will move the wedge sections away from each other, pins controlled by the radially movable rods adapted to en- ,o'ag'e and pjrip the opened oyster shells on their exteriors oppositie the point or engagement of `the wedge sections with the shells, a pair of knives for each wedire section and means for actuating` the knives to sever the closing` muscles ot the oysters.

QG. ln an oyster shuckinp,v machine, the combination of a post, a table rotatably mounted on the post, a series ot wedges carried on the table each comprising; a pair of transversely movable sections, a series oi clamps movable towards and away 'from the wedges, a cam mounted on the post, a radially movable rod 'tor 'each ot the wedges, connecting arms pivotally connected to the resygiectirc arms and wedge sections, a roller journaled in the inner end oi: each rod and nir said cam, said radially movable rods and arms'beingY positioned between the cam and wedges, ,frrippirur pins controlled by the radially movable rods adapted to en- ;rage the oyster shells on their exteriors, slidably mounted knives for severine; the closing' muscles olE the oysters, and means for returning; the knives, wedge sections and ,(,u'ippingiV pins to their normal positions.

, 27, ln an oyster slnickino' machine, the

combination ot a rotatable table, a series ot wedges, a corresponding' number oi clamps clamping' an oyster `against each of the wedges, means 'tor movmovable towards the wedges for` clamping oysters against the wedges, slidablyn1onnt-v ed knives, means ifor projectingthe `knives into the openedoysters for severing the closing' muscles of the oysters, an extractor for each wedge con'iprising a member` movable between the opened oyster shells, abell crank lever connected to each extractor, a slidably mounted post beneath the table yieldingly held .in position to engage the bell crank levers, a roller carried on the post, a` series ot cams normally held ont of engagement with said roller, and means operative upon an abnormal movement ot' the clamps t0- wards the wedges tor moving the cams into position to engage said roller and depress the post, whereby said post will be moved out of position to engage the bell crank levers ot the extractors in the absence of an oyster between one of the clamps and the correspondi-ng` wedge.

` .ln an oyster shucking` machine, the combination ot oyster positioning means, movable members adapted to be moved apart tor opening` the oyster shell, and knives movable between the spaced opening members lor severing; the closing` muscle of the oyster.

9,9. ln an oyster shrinking' machine, the combination of oyster positioning means, slidably mounted shell opening members, means for sliding said members apart and knives ior severing' the closing muscle ol' the oyster. i

30. ln an oyster shuckinp; machine, the combination lot oyster positioning' means, slidably mounted shell opening members, means tor sliding' said members apart and knives movable between the separated opening' members for severing the closing muscle ot the oyster.

31. ln an oyster shucking machine, the combination with the supporting table havingr an opening, therein, oi oyster positioning means' on one side ot the table, means foropeningr the oyster shells, and muscle severinn' means located on the opposite side ot the table and movable through the table opening to sever the oyster muscle.

32. ln an oyster shocking machine, the combiinition ot the shell opening wedges, oyster positioning;r means movable toward the n'edn'es 'lor passing' the oysters against the wedges, means lor actuating the wedges to onen the oyster, and knives for severing the closing muscle of the oyster'n Y f shuckintv machine, the combination oi a table having' an opening therein, shell opening' means movably positioned in said opening, oyster positioning means, and muscle severing' knives.

PM. In an oyster shocking; machine, the combination oil a table having an opening' therein, shell opening' means n'iovably positioned in said opening', oyster positioning' means, and, muscle severinp,l means ino *able 36. In an oyster slmeking machine, the 10 combination of a table, means for opening the oyster shells, means for positioning the oysters on said opening means, and lmeans 'for severing` the closing muscles of the oysters, saiilrpositioninp; aml severing! means 15 being located on opposite sides of said table.

HULDREICH EG LI. 

